“Ryanair remains committed to bringing competition, choice and low fares to the Austrian, German and Spanish markets through our investment in Laudamotion.”

Ryanair though says Laudamotion’s launch has been threatened by Lufthansa, which is allegedly trying to retain aircraft it was obliged by the European Commission to provide Laudamotion on competition grounds.

It accuses Lufthansa of failing to deliver two of the 11 aircraft required by the commission following Lufthansa’s acquisition of Air Berlin and delaying others until after the summer 2018 season, reducing Laudamotion’s ability to take up slots and forcing Ryanair to wet lease its new acquisition 10 aircraft.

Komorek added: “We urge the EU competition authorities to take action and prevent any further attempts by Lufthansa to damage competition through its anti-consumer behaviour.”

Ryanair, in a statement, has called on the EU’s competition authorities to halt Lufthansa’s “repeated abuses of its dominant position, designed to harm competition and consumers”.